WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Strategy & Execution
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile
WaveRider Communications, Inc., a Toronto-based company, had a mission to become the leader in global wireless technology by developing, selling, and supporting products that enabled wireless Internet service providers. It recently launched its "Last Mile Solution," offering Internet service providers the opportunity to provide wireless Internet access at broadband speeds in the unlicensed 2.4 gigahertz spectrum. The wireless Internet access industry was relatively untapped, and WaveRider's vice president of marketing wondered whether the company, as it started its growth phase, should seek an alliance with a competing technology company. To determine the feasibility of this idea, he needed to classify the competition, review the customer barriers, and evaluate which technology was the best fit.
Swot Analysis of "WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile" written by Scott Schneberger, Ken Mark includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Wireless Waverider facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, IT, Strategy execution and Strategy & Execution.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile casestudy better are - – digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, technology disruption, wage bills are increasing, there is backlash against globalization, increasing transportation and logistics costs, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings,
increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, geopolitical disruptions, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Wireless Waverider, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Wireless Waverider operates in.
According to Harvard Business Review, 75% of the managers use SWOT analysis for various purposes such as – evaluating current scenario, strategic planning, new venture feasibility, personal growth goals, new market entry, Go To market strategies, portfolio management and strategic trade-off assessment, organizational restructuring, etc.
SWOT Objectives / Importance of SWOT Analysis and SWOT Matrix
SWOT analysis of WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Wireless Waverider
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in Strategy & Execution field.
4. Making a Strategy & Execution topic specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Wireless Waverider
Strengths WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Wireless Waverider in WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile Harvard Business Review case study are -
Training and development
– Wireless Waverider has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile Harvard Business Review case study by analyzing – employees retention, in-house promotion, loyalty, new venture initiation, lack of conflict, and high level of both employees and customer engagement.
Analytics focus
– Wireless Waverider is putting a lot of focus on utilizing the power of analytics in business decision making. This has put it among the leading players in the industry. The technology infrastructure suggested by Scott Schneberger, Ken Mark can also help it to harness the power of analytics for – marketing optimization, demand forecasting, customer relationship management, inventory management, information sharing across the value chain etc.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Wireless Waverider has innovation driven culture where significant part of the revenues are spent on the research and development activities. This has resulted in, as mentioned in case study WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
High brand equity
– Wireless Waverider has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Wireless Waverider to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Innovation driven organization
– Wireless Waverider is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Successful track record of launching new products
– Wireless Waverider has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Wireless Waverider has effective processes in place that helps in exploring new product needs, doing quick pilot testing, and then launching the products quickly using its extensive distribution network.
Strong track record of project management
– Wireless Waverider is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Organizational Resilience of Wireless Waverider
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Wireless Waverider does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Wireless Waverider has built up over years in its products and services combo offer has resulted in high retention of customers, lower marketing costs, and greater ability of the firm to focus on its customers.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Wireless Waverider in the sector have low bargaining power. WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Wireless Waverider to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Wireless Waverider are driving operational speed, building greater agility, and keeping the organization nimble to compete with new competitors. It helps are organization to ideate new ideas, and execute them swiftly in the marketplace.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Wireless Waverider has highly efficient outsourcing and offshoring strategy. It has resulted in greater operational flexibility and bringing down the costs in highly price sensitive segment. Secondly the value chain collaborators of the firm in WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Weaknesses WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile are -
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Wireless Waverider, firm in the HBR case study WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Wireless Waverider has a high cash cycle compare to other players in the industry. It needs to shorten the cash cycle by 12% to be more competitive in the marketplace, reduce inventory costs, and be more profitable.
High dependence on star products
– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile HBR case study still accounts for major business revenue. This dependence on star products in has resulted into insufficient focus on developing new products, even though Wireless Waverider has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Wireless Waverider has created an environment where the organization is dominated by functional specialists rather than management generalist. This has resulted into product oriented approach rather than marketing oriented approach or consumers oriented approach.
Interest costs
– Compare to the competition, Wireless Waverider has borrowed money from the capital market at higher rates. It needs to restructure the interest payment and costs so that it can compete better and improve profitability.
Capital Spending Reduction
– Even during the low interest decade, Wireless Waverider has not been able to do capital spending to the tune of the competition. This has resulted into fewer innovations and company facing stiff competition from both existing competitors and new entrants who are disrupting the industry using digital technology.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile, in the dynamic environment Wireless Waverider has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Wireless Waverider has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Wireless Waverider is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Strategy & Execution segment. Wireless Waverider needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Wireless Waverider to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Slow to strategic competitive environment developments
– As WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile HBR case study mentions - Wireless Waverider takes time to assess the upcoming competitions. This has led to missing out on atleast 2-3 big opportunities in the industry in last five years.
Lack of clear differentiation of Wireless Waverider products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Wireless Waverider needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile, is just above the industry average. Wireless Waverider needs to redesign the compensation structure and incentives to increase the revenue per employees. Some of the steps that it can take are – hiring more specialists on project basis, etc.
Opportunities WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile | External Strategic Factors
What are Opportunities in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The opportunities highlighted in the Harvard Business Review case study WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile are -
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Wireless Waverider to increase its market reach. Wireless Waverider will be able to reach out to new customers. Secondly 5G will also provide technology framework to build new tools and products that can help more immersive consumer experience and faster consumer journey.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Wireless Waverider is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile case study suggests that firm can utilize new technology to build more coordinated teams and streamline operations and communications using tools such as CAD, Zoom, etc.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Wireless Waverider can still utilize the low interest rates to borrow money for capital investment. Secondly it can also use the increase of government spending in infrastructure projects to get new business.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Wireless Waverider can make experimentation a productive activity and build a culture of innovation using approaches such as – mining transaction data, A/B testing of websites and selling platforms, engaging potential customers over various needs, and building on small ideas in the Strategy & Execution segment.
Identify volunteer opportunities
– Covid-19 has impacted working population in two ways – it has led to people soul searching about their professional choices, resulting in mass resignation. Secondly it has encouraged people to do things that they are passionate about. This has opened opportunities for businesses to build volunteer oriented socially driven projects. Wireless Waverider can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Reconfiguring business model
– The expansion of digital payment system, the bringing down of international transactions costs using Bitcoin and other blockchain based currencies, etc can help Wireless Waverider to reconfigure its entire business model. For example it can used blockchain based technologies to reduce piracy of its products in the big markets such as China. Secondly it can use the popularity of e-commerce in various developing markets to build a Direct to Customer business model rather than the current Channel Heavy distribution network.
Manufacturing automation
– Wireless Waverider can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Strategy & Execution segment. It can use CAD and 3D printing to build a quick prototype and pilot testing products. It can leverage automation using machine learning and artificial intelligence to do faster production at lowers costs, and it can leverage the growth in satellite and tracking technologies to improve inventory management, transportation, and shipping.
Loyalty marketing
– Wireless Waverider has focused on building a highly responsive customer relationship management platform. This platform is built on in-house data and driven by analytics and artificial intelligence. The customer analytics can help the organization to fine tune its loyalty marketing efforts, increase the wallet share of the organization, reduce wastage on mainstream advertising spending, build better pricing strategies using personalization, etc.
Buying journey improvements
– Wireless Waverider can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile suggest that firm can provide automated chats to help consumers solve their own problems, provide online suggestions to get maximum out of the products and services, and help consumers to build a community where they can interact with each other to develop new features and uses.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Wireless Waverider can build a diversified supply chain model across various countries in - South East Asia, India, and other parts of the world. This reconfiguration of global supply chain can help, as suggested in case study, WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Wireless Waverider has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Wireless Waverider to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile case study. Wireless Waverider can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Developing new processes and practices
– Wireless Waverider can develop new processes and procedures in Strategy & Execution industry using technology such as automation using artificial intelligence, real time transportation and products tracking, 3D modeling for concept development and new products pilot testing etc.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Wireless Waverider can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Threats WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile are -
Consumer confidence and its impact on Wireless Waverider demand
– There is a high probability of declining consumer confidence, given – high inflammation rate, rise of gig economy, lower job stability, increasing cost of living, higher interest rates, and aging demography. All the factors contribute to people saving higher rate of their income, resulting in lower consumer demand in the industry and other sectors.
Capital market disruption
– During the Covid-19, Dow Jones has touched record high. The valuations of a number of companies are way beyond their existing business model potential. This can lead to capital market correction which can put a number of suppliers, collaborators, value chain partners in great financial difficulty. It will directly impact the business of Wireless Waverider.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Wireless Waverider is facing in Strategy & Execution sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Regulatory challenges
– Wireless Waverider needs to prepare for regulatory challenges as consumer protection groups and other pressure groups are vigorously advocating for more regulations on big business - to reduce inequality, to create a level playing field, to product data privacy and consumer privacy, to reduce the influence of big money on democratic institutions, etc. This can lead to significant changes in the Strategy & Execution industry regulations.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Wireless Waverider with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Wireless Waverider can face lack of demand in the market place because of Fed actions to reduce inflation. This can lead to sluggish growth in the economy, lower demands, lower investments, higher borrowing costs, and consolidation in the field.
Environmental challenges
– Wireless Waverider needs to have a robust strategy against the disruptions arising from climate change and energy requirements. EU has identified it as key priority area and spending 30% of its 880 billion Euros European post Covid-19 recovery funds on green technology. Wireless Waverider can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Strategy & Execution industry.
High level of anxiety and lack of motivation
– the Great Resignation in United States is the sign of broader dissatisfaction among the workforce in United States. Wireless Waverider needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Strategy & Execution industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Backlash against dominant players
– US Congress and other legislative arms of the government are getting tough on big business especially technology companies. The digital arm of Wireless Waverider business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Wireless Waverider in the Strategy & Execution industry. The Strategy & Execution industry is already at various protected from local competition in China, with the rise of trade war the protection levels may go up. This presents a clear threat of current business model in Chinese market.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile, Wireless Waverider may face longer learning curve for training and development of existing employees. This can open space for more nimble competitors in the field of Strategy & Execution .
Technology disruption because of hacks, piracy etc
– The colonial pipeline illustrated, how vulnerable modern organization are to international hackers, miscreants, and disruptors. The cyber security interruption, data leaks, etc can seriously jeopardize the future growth of the organization.
New competition
– After the dotcom bust of 2001, financial crisis of 2008-09, the business formation in US economy had declined. But in 2020 alone, there are more than 1.5 million new business applications in United States. This can lead to greater competition for Wireless Waverider in the Strategy & Execution sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile Template, Example
Not all factors mentioned under the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats quadrants in the SWOT Analysis are equal. Managers in the HBR case study WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile needs to zero down on the relative importance of each factor mentioned in the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats quadrants.
We can provide the relative importance to each factor by assigning relative weights. Weighted SWOT analysis process is a three stage process –
First stage for doing weighted SWOT analysis of the case study WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile is to rank the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. This will help you to assess the most important strengths and weaknesses of the firm and which one of the strengths and weaknesses mentioned in the initial lists are marginal and can be left out.
Second stage for conducting weighted SWOT analysis of the Harvard case study WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile is to give probabilities to the external strategic factors thus better understanding the opportunities and threats arising out of macro environment changes and developments.
Third stage of constructing weighted SWOT analysis of WaveRider Communications, Inc.: The Wireless Last Mile is to provide strategic recommendations includes – joining likelihood of external strategic factors such as opportunities and threats to the internal strategic factors – strengths and weaknesses. You should start with external factors as they will provide the direction of the overall industry. Secondly by joining probabilities with internal strategic factors can help the company not only strategic fit but also the most probably strategic trade-off that Wireless Waverider needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.